Ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf brings it to Jerome

1of21Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf has lived his life hard and fast, and to nearly a disastrous and premature end.Photo: Michael Albans, AP

2of21** FILE ** Ryan Leaf, center, of Washington State gets help holding up his San Diego Chargers jersey by Chargers owner Alex Spanos, left, and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue after Leaf was chosen by the Chargers as the second pick overall in the NFL draft in this April 18, 1998 photo in New York. In 1998, NFL personnel executives were divided on who would be the better pro quarterback: Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning. Leaf retired from the NFL on Friday, July 27, 2002.Photo: MARK LENNIHAN, AP

3of21Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, center, sits in a Cascade County courtroom, Tuesday, May 8, 2012, in Great Falls, Mont. Leaf pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he broke into a Montana home and illegally possessed painkillers, part of a deal with prosecutors that recommends he spend nine months in a secure drug treatment facility. (AP Photo/The Great Falls Tribune, Larry Beckner) NO SALESPhoto: Larry Beckner, AP

4of21Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, rear left, waits for his sentence hearing to begin in the Cascade County Courthouse, Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Great Falls, Mont. Leaf could spend 15 months locked down in Montana, first in a secure drug treatment facility and then in a pre-release living center as part of a judge's sentence following Leaf's guilty plea for breaking into a house and illegally possessing painkillers. District Judge Kenneth Neill sentenced Leaf on Tuesday to seven years with the Department of Corrections, with two years suspended if he abides by the conditions. (AP Photo/Great Falls Tribune, Rion Sanders) NO SALESPhoto: Rion Sanders, AP

5of21ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the bench during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on November 11, 2001. The Falcons won 20-13. (Photo by Scott Halleran /Getty ImagesPhoto: Scott Halleran/Getty Images

6of2122 Nov 2001 : Quarterback Ryan Leaf of the Dallas Cowboys rests on the sideline during the game against the Denver Broncos at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Broncos won 26-24. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesPhoto: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

7of21FILE — Ryan Leaf talks on the phone after being selected by the San Diego Chargers second overall in the 1998 NFL draft, just behind Peyton Manning, in New York, April 18, 1998. Despite their vastly dissimilar careers, Manning and Leaf remain paired in many fans minds to this day. A similar fate could await Jared Goff and Carson Wentz in the 2016 draft. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)Photo: CHANG W. LEE, NYT

9of21Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf speaks during a news conference in Santa Monica, Calif., Friday, Jan. 2, 1998. Leaf, speaking one day after his team lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, has announced he is leaving college for the NFL. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)Photo: NICK UT, Associated Press

10of21Jan. 1, 1998 -- Two seconds remain in the Rose Bowl

WSU Cougars fans know that there are still two seconds left in the 1998 Rose Bowl. Trailing 21-16 with just seconds left in the game, Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf was leading the Cougars down field and, after the game clock stopped at 2 seconds as the officials moved the first-down chains, attempted to spike the ball at the Michigan 16-yard line to give WSU one last play. Leaf appeared to spike it with 1 second left in the game, but the officials ruled the game was over. Michigan won 21-16 and Cougars fans are still bitter.

(Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport / Getty Images)

11of21Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf listens to the proceedings at his sentencing, Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Great Falls, Mont. Leaf could spend 15 months locked down in Montana, first in a secure drug treatment facility and then in a pre-release living center as part of a judge's sentence following Leaf's guilty plea for breaking into a house and illegally possessing painkillers. District Judge Kenneth Neill sentenced Leaf on Tuesday to seven years with the Department of Corrections, with two years suspended if he abides by the conditions. (AP Photo/Great Falls Tribune, Rion Sanders) NO SALESPhoto: Rion Sanders, AP

12of21Former West Texas A&M University assistant football coach and former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, gives a statement to the media outside court in downtown Amarillo, Texas Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Leaf has been sentenced to 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to eight felony drug charges in Texas.Photo: Michael Norris, AP

13of21** FILE ** Ryan Leaf, center, of Washington State gets help holding up his San Diego Chargers jersey by Chargers owner Alex Spanos, left, and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue after Leaf was chosen by the Chargers as the second pick overall in the NFL draft in this April 18, 1998 photo in New York. In 1998, NFL personnel executives were divided on who would be the better pro quarterback: Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning. Leaf retired from the NFL on Friday, July 27, 2002.Photo: MARK LENNIHAN, AP

14of21Seattle Seahawks' Michael Sinclair sacks San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf for a 1-yard loss in the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000 in San Diego. The Seahawks won 20-12.Photo: DENIS POROY, AP

15of21Cowboys quarterback, Ryan Leaf struggled through a rough game against the Denver Broncos with fans booing him in the second half.Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

16of21Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Leaf participates in a short workout with some of the Bucs receivers in this March 20, 2001 photo, in Tampa, Fla. Unable to beat out Joe Hamilton for the third-string quarterback job in training camp, Leaf was released Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, when the Bucs claimed receiver Milton Wynn off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.Photo: BRUCE HOSKING, AP

17of21NFL rookie quarterbacks Ryan Leaf, left, and Peyton Manning on May 18, 1998. The two were regarded by most as the top two quarterback prospects at the time but only Manning went on to a successful NFL career (PETER COSGROVE / AP)

18of211998, Ryan Leaf, San Diego (2)A lot of scouts had him rated ahead of Peyton Manning. Leaf had 14 TD passes and 36 INTs in three seasons with the Chargers.Photo: MARK HUMPHREY, AP

19of21ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS AUG. 29-30--FILE--San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf aims a pass downfield against the San Francisco 49ers, Aug. 8, 1998 in San Diego. Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf are the latest version of the can't-miss kids. Or at least the fans in Indianapolis and San Diego hope so, not to mention the men who will sign the immense checks these 22-year-old rookies will cash. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)Photo: LENNY IGNELZI, ST

Leaf has lived his hard and fast, and to nearly a disastrous and premature end.

Now, Leaf says, he is a different man. Clearly, life has taught him some lessons.

But his change is about more than being humbled. That overused cliché about everybody needing to learn how to lose comes too close to making winning a bad thing.

Leaf says it didn't matter whether he was a winner or a loser on the football field - his mindset, and his narcissistic and addictive personality were going to be a problem.

It took prison for him to see that.

Transcend is the next step in his continued growth.

"My story isn't any more profound than any other person who has ever come through Transcend or will ever come to Transcend," said Leaf, who started working with Transcend as a $15-an-hour driver.

But his story is different in one substantial way: People know his name.

Joni Ogle, the executive director of Transcend Texas, said

"I think he's attracted people to get help that otherwise wouldn't be attracted," Ogle said. "A lot of (professional athletes) tend to want to kind of sweep addiction and drug and alcohol use under the rug and not have attention put on it.

"Ryan has really opened up that door to say there's a problem and we need to look at it and we need to offer a solution. And to take away the shame ... for people who are having a hard time coming forward and getting help.

"When you see somebody who was at the top of their game and then they've fallen and then they've gotten back up ... it gives people sitting on the couch, struggling, it gives them a feeling that maybe there is help."

And Leaf says he is all about showing the world that it can be done.

"You feel so much shame ... but I say, 'Hey, I just got out of prison, I'm living on my parent's couch,' and they can relate to that and it might allow them to extend that hand," Leaf said.

I'm glad I met Leaf at this point, a point where the highs and lows of the past are overshadowed by a new direction.

I have no idea where Leaf will end up, but the guy I met sounds like he is going places.

"You can tell that he's lived it and is still living it and is walking the walk," Ogle said.

Jerome grew up in downtown Acres Homes, Texas. He is a proud graduate of Mabel B. Wesley Elementary and was a basketball team captain at Waltrip High School, where he helped the Mighty Rams to a near-.500 record.

A math genius and engineering major in college, he's still working on this writing thing. He says that the three years he spent as an F.M. Black Panther probably played a more significant a role in the man he would become than the time he spent in college.